Degreasing apparatus



CLEMENT KROUSE, 0F WILLIAMSPORT, PENNSYLVANIA.

DEGREASING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Apr. 27, 1920.

Application filed January 27, 1920. Serial No. 354,399.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that LCHARLES C. Knousn, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Williamsport, in the county of Lycoming and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Degreasing Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

My present invention relates to an improved apparatus for degreasing hides and skins and is intended more especially for carrying out the method which forms the subject of an application filed by me in the United States Patent Office on the 20th day of June, 1919, Serial No. 305,460.

The invention aims to provide a simple, economical and eflicient apparatus by which the hides and skins may be easily handled and effectually subjected to the degreasing operation.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of the entire apparatus with the treating chamber shown in section; and

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical section through a part of the treating chamber at right angles to the section shown in Fig. 1.

The treating chamber a is provided with top and bottom headers 6. Connecting these headers is a' series of hollow plates 0, the interiors of which communicate with the headers b. The headers may be conveniently formed of abutting sections, each section being integral with one of the hollow plates, as shown in Fig. 2. y I

The plates 0 are strung on supporting rods 1. Each plate 0 is provided on opposite sides with runways d. The skins are adapted to be stretched on and secured to wire frames 6 having flanges 7- adapted to slide on the runways cl. Each frame is thus adapted to be positioned between two adja cent hollow plates 0.

The headers 12 are connected to a circulating pipe I) in which is interposed a tank 9 and a pump 2'. In the tank g wateris heated by means of steam admitted through a pipe h. The pump '5 establishes a circulation of water through the hollow plates 0.

The frames 6 are slidable in and out through the front of the treating chamber, which is adapted to be' closed by means of a hinged door j, which is held closed so as to be air tight by means of appropriate .securing devices 70.

The interior ofthe treating chamber is connected, by means of a pipe on with a vacuum condenser n, which in turn is connected, by means of pipes o and p, with two drip tanks 1' and 8, one to receive condensed water and the other condensed degreasing solvent, which may be assumed to be naphtha. These tanks are both connected, through branches of a pipe u, with a' vacuum pump t.

The naphtha drain tank is connected through a pipe '0 with a naphtha storage tank w. A pipe '2; connects the storage tank, through pipe 00, with the interior of the treating chamber.

A still y communicates with the interior of the treating chamber by a pipe y, and, through a condenser z, with the naphtha storage tank w by pipes z and n.

The pipes are all suitably valved to control the flow of air,'water and solvent.

In carrying out my process, I proceed preferably as follows. I first cleanse the skins by the usual method of washing or soaking. If received in the hair, bristles,

,or short wool, I then depilate them by immersion or drumming in a sodium sulfid solution which causes the hair to dissolve,

after which they are again washed in water to free them from the sodium sulfid. Other methods of depilation may be used, for instance, a paste mixture of lime and sodium sulfid spread upon the hair which dissolves it, followed by a washing. The usual method of liming for depilation may be employed if desired.

The skins g are secured to the frames 6,

which are then slid into the treating chamber a. Water is circulated through the hollow plates 0 to maintain a temperature of say 100 F., or wellunder the melting point of the collagen of the skins.

Before, after, or concurrently with establishing the said water circulation, air is evacuated from the treating chamber through pipe a, tank 7 pipe 0, condenser n and pipe on, to about 29 inches of vacuum. The water in the skins boils out and the vapor passes" to the condenser n and thence to the drip tankr. This treatment is pr'eferably continued until substantially all the water is removed from the skins, which will require two hours, more or less.

The interior of the treating chamber is then opened to the naphtha storage reservoir created. The residualsolvent is then vapor- ;ized-'by'nieans of vacuum and a temperature below the .Ine'lting point of collagen. The

I I vvapor passes through pipe m to condenser 11, v

, lThe'conde'n'sediliquid flows thence into the drawn into'thenaphtha storage tank 3w;

Repetition of; the solvent treatment is permissible, but ordinarily unnecessary.

20 and in condition for tanning.

It will be obvious that a series of treati. ment tanks maybe connected up in a suit- I I the; solvent flowinginto the chamber,

.Theyacuum, ifit' has been broken, is re drain tank 8, from-which it may. befWithr The skins are now thoroughly degreased.

able manner to increase the capacity of" the apparatus and enable one .or more tanks to;

be used for dehydrating while another tank or tanks are being used for grease extrac tion.

Having thus described my invention, what Iclaimis: I

Apparatus for degreasing. hides and'skins comprising a closed solution-tank having. a

clo sure'at one side, parallel hollow spaced heating elements located in said tank "with means for supplying heating fluid'thereto', guides arrangedbetween said heating e1e-,

hides and skins to which said hides and skins are clamped, liquid supply and with drawal means connected withf'said tank, and i e r vacuum producing means connected with said tank;

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

CHARLES CLEMENT KROUSE.

ments, reticulated supporting frames for the Y 1 

